Match Week 4: Columbus Crew shines as NBC shuns the best game of the week in MLS

The Columbus Crew beat the Seattle Sounders on a thrilling goal with seconds left in the game -- but the national television audience got to see D.C. United take on the Chicago Fire in an empty stadium instead.

MLS, for the good of the league and American soccer, NBC and ESPN cannot be allowed to broadcast another game from an empty RFK. It is gives a terrible image of not just MLS but also of American soccer.

Standings adjusted for all competitions and weighted by talent level at all three leagues.

MLS 1

First Division West

10   FC Dallas

10   Sporting Kansas City

8   Real Salt Lake

8   Vancouver Whitecaps

6   Houston Dynamo

6   Seattle Sounders

5   Chivas USA

4   Colorado Rapids

4   LA Galaxy

3   Chicago Fire

2   Portland Timbers  

2   San Jose Earthquakes

0   San Antonio Scorpions

First Division East

9   Columbus Crew

6   Toronto FC

5   Philadelphia Union

4   New England Revolution

3   New York Red Bulls

1   Montreal Impact

1   D.C. United

1   Orlando City

0   New York Cosmos

0   Carolina RailHawks

0   Rochester Rhinos

-    New York City FC (2015)

-    Miami (2016)

MLS 2

Second Division West

2   LA Galaxy II

0   Sacramento Republic

0   Atlanta Silverbacks

0   FC Edmonton

0   Minnesota United

0   Indy Eleven

0   Arizona United

0   Oklahoma City Energy

0   Orange County Blues

0   Dayton Dutch Lions

-    Colorado Springs Switchbacks (2015)

-    Tulsa Roughnecks (2015)

-    Oklahoma City (2015)

Second Division East

1   Charleston Battery

0   Richmond Kickers

0   Pittsburgh Riverhounds

0   Tampa Bay Rowdies

0   Fort Lauderdale Strikers

0   Ottawa Fury

0   Charlotte Eagles

0   Wilmington Hammerheads

0   Harrisburg City Islanders

-    Puerto Rico Islanders (2014 fall)

-    Virginia Cavalry (2015)

-    Jacksonville Armada (2015)

If the Playoffs Started Today...

MLS Cup

(1W) FC Dallas vs. (4E) New England Revolution

(2W) Sporting Kansas City vs. (3E) Philadelphia Union

(3W) Real Salt Lake vs. (2E) Toronto FC

(4W) Vancouver Whitecaps vs. (1E) Columbus Crew

Relegation Playoff

(LW) San Antonio Scorpions vs. (LE) Rochester Rhinos

Promotion Bowl

(1W) LA Galaxy II vs. (4E) Tampa Bay Rowdies

(2W) Sacramento Republic vs. (3E) Pittsburgh Riverhounds

(3W) Atlanta Silverbacks vs. (2E) Richmond Kickers

(4W) FC Edmonton vs. (1E) Charleston Battery